First all praise is due to Allah; we praise Allah and seek
Allah’s help and forgiveness. Without Allah’s guidance and help nothing
can be achieved.

Behind every endeavor there are some individuals who make
it possible. This compilation is no exception. My sincere thanks and
appreciation goes to all brothers and sisters of the Salman Al - Farisi
Islamic Center.

They gave their time, and knowledge, time after time, to
review, correct, draw, and add, they were always willing to offer their
assistance.

I ask Allah to accept our efforts, overlook our
shortcomings and cover us all with His Mercy in this world and in the
hereafter.

CONTENTS

Introduction.

3

A) Death.

5

1) When a Muslim is at the point of
Death.

9

2) Just after Death has been
determined.

10

B) Mourning the
dead.

11

C) Al-Ghusul (Washing the
body of a dead Muslim).

12

D) Al-Kafan (Shrouding the
body of a dead Muslim).

14

1) Kafan of a
male.

14

2) Kafan of a
female.

16

E) Salatul Janazah (Funeral
prayer).

18

F) Following the
Janazah.

22

G) Al-Dafan (The
Burial).

23

H) Special cases.

27

1) Miscarried
fetus.

28

2)
Children.

28

3)
Martyr.

28

I) Condolences.

29

J) The Edda (Waiting period)
for Muslim widows.

30

K) Rewards after
death.

32

L) Visiting the
Cemetery.

33

M) References.

35

INTRODUCTION

In the name of Allah Most Merciful Most
Gracious

All praise is due to Allah; we praise Allah and seek
Allah’s help and forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah, Most High, from
the evils of our own selves. Whomsoever has been guided by Allah, none can
misguide him, and whomsoever is misguided, no one can guide him except
Allah.

And I bear witness that there is no god worthy of being
worshipped except Allah Al Mighty, alone, without partner or associate. I
further bear witness that Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is his true worshipper and
messenger, may Allah the exalted bestow His peace and blessings upon
him.

Allah says in the Quran "O you who believe! Fear Allah
as Allah should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam "
(Quran 3:102).

"O mankind ! Be grateful to your lord, Who created you
from a single soul and from it created its mate, and from them both Allah
created many men and women, and fear Allah through Whom you demand your
mutual rights and do not cut relations of Kinship. Surely Allah is ever a
watcher over you "(Quran 4:1).

"O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah, and speak
always the truth. Allah will direct you to do good deeds and will forgive
you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger, he verily has
got a great success " (Quran 33:70-71).

Know then that the most truthful book is that of Allah
(The Quran) and that the best guidance is that of the Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).

As Muslims, we all must submit to the will and
commandments of Allah. Those commandments are in the Quran, the word of
Allah, and in the Sunnah, the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H), and whatever his companions said or did of which he did not
disapprove.

Allah in the Quran says : " We have explained in detail
in this Quran, for the benefit of Mankind, every kind of similitude "(Quran 18:54), "And we have sent down to you the Book explaining
all things: a guide, a mercy, and glad tidings " (Quran
16:89).

The Sunnah is the secondary source of Islamic law, it is
the Prophet’s sayings, actions, and what his companions did to which he
showed no objection. Allah in the Quran says that Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) does not speak from himself, but is inspired by Allah : "Nor
does he say ought of his own desire and wishes; it is just inspiration
sent down to him " (Quran 53: 3-5).

Muslims are ordered in the Quran to follow the Sunnah of
the Prophet (P.B.U.H), this means to obey and practice the commands of the
Prophet.

Allah in the Quran says : " Whatever the Prophet
ordered you to do, you should do, and whatever he forbids you, you should
reject "(Quran 59: 7), " The sayings of the faithful believers when
they are called to Allah ( His Words { the Quran } and His Messenger ) to
judge between them is only that they say: " We hear and we obey," And such
are the successful. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears
Allah and keeps his duty (To Him), such ! They are the successful "
(Quran 24: 51-52).

" But no, by your lord, they can have no (Real)
faith, until they make you (Muhammad) a judge in all disputes
between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your
decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction " (Quran
4:65).

After the death of the Prophet, his companions gave sharp
attention to preserving the Sunnah of the Prophet. Each one tried to find
out what the Prophet did or said in certain situations, and then recorded
it.

Later many scholars spent their lives investigating those
who transmitted the Sunnah; they compiled the authentic Hadiths. Among
these scholars are Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim; both wrote books that
contain only authentic Hadiths.

The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in many authentic Hadiths
showed us in great detail how and what to say and do in our everyday
lives.

Allah’s last revelation states that Islam is the perfect
religion: "Today I have perfected your religion for you, bestowed my
favor upon you and chosen for you Islam as your religion " (Quran
5:3). Thus it is fitting for us as Muslims to follow the perfect guidance
of Allah and His messenger through the Quran and the Sunnah.

But unfortunately, people listen to this and that, see the
non-Muslim’s ways of doing things and then copy it and it becomes the norm
. The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) predicted this by saying :" You
would copy the same path as was done by those before you inch by inch and
step by step so that if they had entered into the hole of a Dhab (a desert
lizard) you will enter too." They ( The Prophet companions ) asked him: "
You mean Jews and Christians by your words’ Those before you’ ?." He said:
" Who else (than those two religious groups) "(Bukhari and
Muslim).

Some Muslims say : " In our country we do things this way
and that way, so it must be the right way ", others say : " We think this
way is much better than the other way ".

So as long as the tendency remains among the Muslims in
taking blind bride in following their ancestry or tribal heritage or
culture or nationality, and as long as Muslims are hardly bothered to
learn and take their practices from the pure knowledge, the Quran and the
authentic Sunnah, more confusion, and more divisions will continue to
hammer the body of the Muslim Ummah.

The message of Islam covers all aspects of life,
commanding all things that will benefit a person in this life and the
hereafter.

This includes caring for this person when he dies by
making dua’ for him, washing and shrouding his body, performing Salatul
Janazah for him ( Where people pray and ask Allah to forgive him and have
mercy on him ), then putting him in the grave.

The caring extends to his family too, by comforting his
relatives, sharing with them their sorrow, and offering them condolences,
sympathy and support.

Hoping to fill the need for a simplified Janazah guide to
all Muslims, I have followed the method described in the authentic
Hadiths, explanatory step by step notes and several illustrated
drawings.

I have also included an introduction on importance of
following the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), and
an explanation of scholars’ ruling on issues which should be known by
every Muslim.

A) DEATH

This topic is very important, as each and every one of us
will experience it one day and that is : Death.

Almost every day we hear of the death of someone, yet most
people ignore the fact that one day they will die too, they go on with
their life as if nothing has happened feeling that their time has not yet
come for them to die.

Allah says in the Quran: "Everyone shall taste
death. And only on the day of resurrection shall you be paid your wages in
full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to paradise,
this person is indeed successful. The life of this world is only the
enjoyment of deception:" (Quran 3:185), " Every soul shall
have the taste of death " (Quran 29:57).

In an authentic Hadith Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
said : " Remember the destroyer of pleasures-death, for not a day
passes upon the grave except it says ‘ I am the house of remoteness; I am
the house of loneliness; I am the house of soil; I am the house of
worms’ " ( Authentic-Thermithi).

The knowledge of the reality of death helps people
understand it and prepare themselves for its coming.

Death is simply a transition state from one world to
another, as birth is. No one knows when and where he will die or knows
how.

In this respect Allah says in the Quran in Surat (Chapter)
Luqman: " Nor does anyone know what it is that he will earn tomorrow:
Nor does anyone know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full
knowledge and Allah is acquainted with all things " (Quran 31:
34).

Islam is the only religion that explains death in full
detail, how it happens, and what Muslims should do before, during, and
after the death of a Muslim.

Allah has assigned angels responsible for taking our souls
out of our bodies. In the Quran Allah mentioned the Archangel name "Angel
of Death".

Allah says in the Quran : " Say The Angel of Death put
in charge of you, will (Duly) take your souls, then you shall be
brought back to your Lord " (Quran 32:11).

Death involves agony and hardship as mentioned in an
authentic Hadith : " When Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was
dying, he put his hands in a large cup of water which was close to him and
wipe his face with it, saying : ‘O Allah help me over the hardship and
agony of death ’"( Authentic -Termithi).

For the faithful BELIEVERS Allah says in the Quran: "
Those who have said ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and then have become upright, the
angels will descend upon them saying ‘ Do not fear nor be sad, but receive
good news of the paradise which you have been promised. We are your
protectors in this life and in the hereafter: therein you shall have all
that you desire; therein you shall have all that you ask for "(Quran
41:30-31).

Allah also says : " When the angels take the lives of
the righteous, the angels say to them : ‘ Salaamun Alikum, enter paradise,
because of the good deeds that you used to do (during your life) ’
" (Quran 6:32).

For the UNBELIEVERS, Allah says in the Quran : " If
only you could see when the angels take the souls of those who
disbelieved, striking their faces and their backs, and saying :‘ Taste the
punishment of the fire. That is for what your own hands have put forth ( Of evil deeds )’ " (Quran 8:50-51).

Allah also says :" If you only could see when the
transgressors are going through the agonies of death, and the angels
stretching forth their hands saying ‘Deliver your souls; this day you
shall be recompensed the torment of degradation because of what you use to
utter against Allah other than the truth, and you used to reject Allah’s
signs with disrespect’ " (Quran 6:93).

The grave is the first station of the stations of the
hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: "When the
deceased is placed in his grave and when his friends depart and leave him,
he hears their footsteps, then two angels will make him sit and ask him :
What did you say about this man ( Muhammad (P.B.U.H) ) ? The Believer will
say: I bear witness that he was the servant and Messenger of
Allah..

They (The two Angeles) will say to the deceased:
Look to your place in Hell. Allah has substituted it with a place in
paradise. They see it all together.

However, the unbeliever or the hypocrite, will be
asked about Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He will say:’ I don’t know! I used to say
what people used to say’. The two angels say to him:‘ How come you did not
know and you did not read about him’. Then they beat him heavily with a
metal hammer.This causes him to scream painfully and all his surroundings
will hear him except human beings and Jinns." (Bukhari and
Muslim).

Another authentic Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmed states
that the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said two or three times:
" Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave,’ then he
said :‘ When a believer is about to leave this world, angels with bright
faces like the sun come down to him from heaven with a shroud from the
shrouds of paradise and some of the perfume of paradise and sit away from
him as far as the eye can see.

Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head
and says:’ O good soul, come out to forgiveness and acceptance from
Allah’. The soul then comes out gently as a drop flows from a water -
faucet and he seizes it.

Then the other angels take the soul from the angel
of death and shroud it with the shroud from paradise, perfume with the
perfume of paradise; its fragrance will be like that of the sweetest musk
found on the face of the earth.

They then take the sweet-smelling soul up, and
whenever they pass by a group of Angeles, they ask :‘ Who is this good
soul ?’ The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the best of his
names that people used to call him by during his life:‘ So and so, the son
of so and so.’ When they reach the first heaven they request permission to
enter, and the gates will open to them.

The same is done in the following heavens until they
reach the seventh heaven, and Allah says :‘ Record the book of my slave in
the highest place and take him back to earth, for I created mankind from
it, into it they shall return, and from it shall be brought another
time.’

The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to
him, make him sit and ask him: ‘ Who is your Lord ?’ He replies:‘ My Lord is Allah. They ask:‘ What is your
religion ?’ and he replies:‘ My religion is Islam’. They ask again:‘ Who
is this man who was sent among you ?’ He replies:‘ He is Allah’s
messenger’. They ask :’ What is your knowledge ?’ He replies:’ I read the
book of Allah, believed in it and declared it to be true.’ .

Then it will be said:‘ My slave has spoken the
truth, so spread out carpets from paradise for him, cloth him from
paradise, and open a gate for him into paradise’.

Then some of its joy and fragrance come to him, his
grave is made spacious for him as far as he can see, a man with a glorious
face, beautiful garments and sweet perfume comes to him and says:’ Rejoice
in what pleases you for this is your day which you have been
promised’..

He asks:’ Who are you, for your appearance brings
goodness ?’. The man replies:’ I am your good deeds.’ He then says: ‘ O
Allah, bring the hour, so that I may return to my family and
property.’.

But when a non-believer is about to leave this
world, angels with ugly faces come down to him from heaven with a hard and
rough cloth, and sit away from him as far as the eye can
see.

Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head
and says:‘ O wicked soul, come out to anger and displeasure from Allah.’ It then becomes dissipated in his body.

The angel draws it out violently as a spit is drawn
out from moistened wool, and he seizes it; then the other angels take the
soul and put it in that rough cloth which emits a very offensive bad
stench like the worst smell found on the face of the
earth.

They then take the foul-smlling soul up, and
whenever they pass by a group of Angels, they ask :‘ Who is this wicked
soul ?’ The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the worst of his
names that people used to call him by during his life :‘ So and so, the
son of so and so,’ when they reach the first heaven they request
permission to enter and the gates will not open to
them.

Then the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)recited
this verse from the Quran : " The gates of the heaven will not be opened
to them "(Quran 7:40), the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)continued saying :‘Allah then says:" Record his book in the lowest
place,"’ and his soul falls down to earth.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)thenrecited another verse from the Quran: " He who assigns partners with
Allah is as if he had fallen down from heaven and been snatched up by
birds, or made to fall by the wind in a place far distant " (Quran
22:31).

The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to
him, make him sit and ask him:’ Who is your Lord ?’ He replies:‘ My Lord?
Oh, I do not know’. They ask:‘ What is your religion ?’ and he replies:‘ My religion ! Oh, I do not know.

They ask again:‘ Who is this man who was sent among
you ?’ He replies:‘ Oh, I do not know’. Then it will be said:‘ He has
lied, so spread out carpets from hellfire for him, and open a gate for him
into hellfire.’

Then some of its heat and poison come to him, his
grave is made so narrow for him so that his ribs are pressed together in
it.

A man with a horrifying face, ugly garments and
offensive odor comes to him and says:‘ Be grieved with what displeases you
for this is your day which you have been promised’. He asks:‘ Who are you,
for your appearance brings evil ?’ The man replies:‘ I am your wicked
deeds.’ He then says:‘ O Allah, do not bring the
hour’"(Authentic-Ahmed).

All of this, and the day of judgment has not yet started.
So I remind myself first and I remind you as my brothers and sisters to
prepare for this day; prepare for it by truly and sincerely submitting to
Allah, doing good deeds according to Allah’s commands in the Quran and the
teachings of the Prophet.

Avoid all types of wrong and evil which Allah and the
Prophet asked us to avoid, but do not delay or postpone since you do not
know when death will come.

The following are simple step by step procedures for a
Muslim funeral that explain what should be done Islamically when death
occurs.

1) WHEN A MUSLIM IS AT THE
POINT OF DEATH

Family members of the dying person and his most pious
friends should be informed and should be present at his side to help him
turn his thoughts to Allah, encourage him very gently to repent, remind
him about all the good deeds that he did, about Allah’s mercy, and Allah’s
forgiveness so that he may anticipate Allah’s mercy and Allah’s
favors.

Allah in the Quran said: "And who despairs of the mercy
of his Lord, but those who are misguided "(Quran 15:56).

They should give him hope, not allowing him to collapse
out of pain or panic.

They should prompt him very gently (Encouragement
without insistence) every now and then to say the Shahada: "La ilaha ella Allah", which means ‘There is no God but
Allah,’ in a very kind and sincere manner as these may be his last
words.

They should pay his debts from his money, or if there is
not enough, then from any family member or any relative, this matter is
important since the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) encouraged Muslims to pay
the debts of the deceased.

NOTE:

There is no Islamic teaching of putting the Quran under
the pillow of the deceased.

There is no Islamic teaching of asking junubs (Those who
did not take a shower after sexual act), or menstruating women to leave
the room of the deceased.

There is no Islamic teaching of putting flowers, candles
etc., in the deceased’s room.

B) MOURNING THE
DEAD

Mourning over the dead is allowed in Islam, but there is a
great difference between what is allowed Islamically and the practice of
some Muslims at the present time.

Grief at the death of a beloved person is normal, and
weeping for the dead is allowed in Islam. What is prohibited is to
express grief by wailing ( Bewailing refers to mourning in a loud
voice), shrieking, beating the chest and cheeks, tearing hair or
clothes, breaking things or scratching facesor saying phrases that
makes a Muslim lose faith.

All of this is totally prohibited, and the deceased may
feel pain by these actions, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said:
"The deceased suffers when someone bewails
loudly" (Bukhari & Muslim).

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" Two things in
people are Kufr ( Ignorance ), one is to ridicule someone on his family
genealogy, and the other is bewailing loudly the dead"
(Muslim).

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) also said :" I detest a
woman who cries out very loudly, or shaves her hair, or tears her clothes
when a beloved one dies " (Bukhari & Muslim).

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" He is not
of us who beats his face, tears his clothes and bewails loudly when
misfortune happens to him as was done before during the days of
ignorance" (Bukhari & Muslim).

Some people let their beard grow to show their sadness,
then after several days they shave it. Others wear black clothes, or black
ties. All of this has no basis in Islam..

It is a Muslim’s duty to advise gently those who do these
things to stop doing so, since it is totally prohibited. No loss, however
great, should lead a Muslim to sour his faith. They should however bear
patiently and accept Allah’s destiny.

There is no objection to quiet weeping as Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) did when his son died and said : " It is a mercy that
Allah made in the hearts of his servants" (Bukhari).

Relatives of a deceased Muslim may mourn him for three
days only, but a widow may mourn her husband four months and ten
days.

This is due to Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) who
said :" It is prohibited for a woman who believes in Allah and the
day of judgment to mourn any dead person more than three days except her
husband four months and ten days " (Bukhari). This period is
called the Edda (Waiting period) which is prescribed by Allah in
the Quran (2 : 234).

C) AL-GHUSUL ( WASHING THE
DEAD MUSLIM )

When a Muslim dies, it is the responsibility of his family
or other Muslims to wash him according to the Islamic rites of washing the
deceased. Two or three persons may perform the washing.

The person(s) who may wash the deceased should
:

Be a trustworthy, and honest adult
Muslim(s).

Know the Islamic way of washing the dead and be able to
carry out the washing.

Not make any comment on the body of the
deceased.

NOTE:

If the deceased is a male, then
ONLY males should wash him.

If the deceased is a female, then
ONLY females should wash her.

For a married person, the spouse may perform the
washing.

For a child, either males or females may do the
washing.

PLACE OF WASHING :

The deceased’s body should be washed in a clean, secluded,
and private place where clean water and soap are available. Gloves or
pieces of cloth are needed.

The body of the deceased should be washed with water and,
if available, lotus leaves, or camphor (To be used in the final
wash).

The washing should be done three or five, or any more odd
number of times if necessary.

STEPS OF WASHING :

The body of the deceased should be placed on a table or
alike, the deceased’s clothes should be removed, and the body should be
covered with a sheet of cloth.

The head and the upper body should be raised slightly to
insure the washing water with exudations from the body flows down and does
not run back to the body.

The Aura (Private parts) of the deceased should be covered
with a piece of cloth (The Aura of a male is from the belly button to the
knee in the presence of males, for the female is the same in the presence
of females).

The washer should start washing by saying:"Bismil - lah ","In the name of Allah".

The washer winds a piece of cloth around his hand, and
with this he cleans away any impurities from the body using water. Then he
should dispose of this piece.

The washer should take another piece of cloth around his
hand, press lightly the stomach of the deceased so as so to expel, if
possible, any remnants from it, and then wash the body of all impurities
using water. Then he should dispose this piece of cloth.

The washer should take another piece of cloth around his
hand (May use gloves), and wash the covered private parts, then dispose of
this piece of cloth.

The washer should perform Wudu (Ablution) on the deceased
without inserting the water in the nose and in the
mouth.

The washer should clean the body with water and soap (If
available), starting from the head (hair, face and beard {Men}), then the
upper right side of the body then the left side, after that the lower
right side then the lower left.

In the case of a female, her hair should be loosened,
washed, combed, and be braided in three braids, and placed behind her
back.

The washing should be done three times, or five times, or
seven times, as needed, providing that after washing the head, wash the
right side before the left, and the upper parts before the lower
ones.

In the last wash, the washer may use camphor, or some
perfume with the water.

After that the body should be dried with clean
towel.

Then the body should be totally covered with a white
sheet.

Get ready to start the shrouding.

SPECIAL NOTE : In case the deceased is a
female in her menstrual period or have child birth bleeding, padding
should be used to prevent blood from leaving the body.

NOTE:

It is recommended that those who performed the washing
should take a bath .

It is recommended that those who performed the washing
should make Wudu.

All of this is based on authentic Hadith that Um
Atiyah narrated that: " When the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) died, he
instructed us:‘ Wash her three times, or more than that if you feel it is
necessary, with water and sidr(good smelling leaves), and then after the
last wash apply some camphor to the body , then loosen her hair, wash it,
comb it, and make it in three braids laid behind her back " (Bukhari & Muslim).

NOTE:

There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran during
the Ghusul.

There is no Islamic teaching of making special dthiker
(Certain words to remember Allah) during the Ghusul.

D) AL-KAFAN ( SHROUDING THE DEAD MUSLIM
)

Shourding should start Just after washing the body of
the deceased. It is recommended to use white sheets from inexpensive
material. Extravagance is not recommended in the Kafan
(Shroud).

Aisha relates that : " When the Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) died, he was shrouded in three white sheets from
Yemen" (Bukhari & Muslim).

THE KAFAN OF A MALE

The Kafan of a male should consist of three
white winding sheets about{7 x 7 feet}, clean and large enough to
conceal the whole body, after having been perfumed with incense. Use 4
tie ropes, each 7 feet long ( Figure (1)
).

The material of the sheet should not be silk, nor should
any gold be used.

STEPS OF SHROUDING :

The winding sheets should be spread out one on the
top of the other .

The deceased, covered with a sheet, is lifted and laid
on his back on the winding sheets.

Some scent or perfume may be put on those parts of the
body upon which one rests during prostration, that is the forehead,
nose, hands, knees, and feet.

If it is possible the deceased’s left hand should be
placed on his chest, then put his right hand on the left hand like the
way in the Salat (Prayer).

The edge of the top sheet is folded over the deceased
right side, then the other edge over his left side. Then the second
sheet should be folded the same way. The third and the largest sheet
should be treated the same way.

These sheets should be fastened with a piece of cloth
{Tie ropes}, one above the head, another under the feet, and two around
the body.

2.THE KAFAN OF A FEMALE

The Kafan of a female should consist of five white
garments, (Two winding sheet, a long loose sleeveless shirt {From
shoulder to feet}, a waist wrapper, and a head veil ), these should be
large enough to cover the whole body and may be perfumed with incense, a
loin cloth may be used to bind the upper part of her legs, use 4 tie
ropes, each one is 7 feet long ( Figure (2)
).

The deceased, covered with a sheet, is lifted and laid
on her back on the shroud.

Some scent or perfume may be put on those parts of the
body upon which one rests during prostration, that is the forehead,
nose, hands, knees, and feet.

The loin cloth is bound round her upper legs (Acts like
underwear).

The waist wrapper is tied in place.

Put on the sleeveless shirt (Long to cover the body from
the shoulder to the feet) .

Put the head veil.

The deceased’s left hand should be placed on her chest,
then put her right hand on the left hand like the way in the Salat
(Prayer).

The edge of the top sheet is folded over the deceased
right side, then the other edge over his left side. Then the second
sheet should be folded the same way.

These sheets should be fastened with a piece of cloth
{Tie ropes}, one above the head, another under the feet, and two around
the body.

NOTE:

There is no Islamic teaching of writing any thing on the
shrouds.

E) SALATUL JANAZAH (THE FUNERAL)

A divine service is held over the dead body of every
Muslim, young or old, even of infants who have lived only a few minutes.
When the soul leaves the body, preparations are made for bidding him the
last farewell.

It is highly recommended that, after washing and shrouding
the body of the deceased, the body not to be kept long, but rather taken
quickly, prayed for, and then buried.

Salatul Janazah is required to be performed in
congregation to request pardon for the deceased and all dead Muslims, and
to wrap them all in Allah’s Mercy.

It is preferable that Salatul Janazah be performed outside
the Mosque or the Musalla (Prayer room), like in activity rooms or
courtyards.

Salatul Janazah is a collective obligation. A Muslim
should not hesitate to participate in it, whether or not the deceased or
his relatives are known to him.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said : " If a Muslim dies
and forty Muslims, who do not associate anything with Allah , join in the
Salatul Janazah, Allah accepts their prayers for him." ( Muslim
).

Salatul Janazah is said silently, except the Takbeer and
Tassleem. All conditions for regular Salat are required in Salatul
Janazah such as Tahara, Wudu, clean body and clothes, neeyah (Intention),
and facing the Qiblah.

There is a reward for attending Salatul Janazah for both
the deceased and those who make the Salat according to the following
Hadith.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" Who ever attends
the Janazah until it is finished, will earn a Qirat, and who ever stays
until the burial, will earn two Qirats. Someone asked: What does Qirat
mean ? , the Prophet answered :‘It means rewards as big as great
mountain" (
Bukhari & Muslim ).

There are specific times when it is prohibited to perform
Salatul Janazah, unless it becomes necessary, due to the condition of
the body, to perform it quickly and then bury the body.

This is due to the Hadith of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) who
forbade us to pray, or bury our dead during these specified times
(Muslim).

These prohibited times are :

From sunrise until the sun is fully
risen,

At the zenith of the sun (the sun at meridian), until
it passes the meridian,

From when the sun pales before sunset until it has
set.

STEPS OF
SALATUL JANAZAH

It is preferable that Salatul
Janazah be performed outside the Mosque / the Musalla.

All conditions for regular Salat are required in Salatul
Janazah such as Tahara, Wudu, clean body and clothes, neeyah
(Intention), and facing the Qiblah.

Muslims should form a minimum of three lines facing the
Qiblah. The one who leads the Salat is the leader or his deputy, or the
deceased’s father.

If there is only one Muslim with the Imam, he should
stand behind the Imam.

The body (ies) should be placed in front of the person
who leads the prayer.

In case there are more than one dead Muslim (Males and
females), then the female(s) should be placed in the first row(s) in the
direction of the Qiblah, then the male(s) in the following row(s), then
the Imam.

For example : If there are : a dead Muslim male,
a female, a young girl, and a young boy, then behind the Qiblah, first
place the body of the young girl, then the adult female, then the young
boy, then the adult male, so the bodies are arranged in a way that
females’ bodies are first, then the males ( Figure (3)
).

Figure
(3)

Figure (4) Figure (5)

The Imam should stand by the middle of a female body,
and by the head for a male body, this is due to the Hadith in which
Anas related that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) leading Salatul Janazah
for a dead male, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood in front of the deceased
head, and for a dead female, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood in front of
the midlle of her body.( Authentic-Abu Dawood). In another Hadith
Samura ben Jundub said when Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) made Salatul
Janazah for a dead Muslim female, he stood in front of her waist
(Muslim) ( Figure (4), (5) ).

Behind the Imam, males stand in lines, then children,
then females (Figure (3),(4),(5)).

This means : " O Allah! Grant peace to Muhammad and
his family as you did to Ibrahim and his family. O Allah! Bless
Muhammad and his family as you blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly
you are Most Glorious and Most Praiseworthy".

Then say : " Alla-who Akbar
".

Then make dua’ (Supplicate) for the
deceased.

Then say: " Alla-who Akbar ".

Then make dua (Supplicate) for all dead
Muslims.

In the case of a dead baby or young child, make dua
(Supplicate) for his parents.

Then say : " Assalamu alykum ", like you
say in other Salats. Tasleem could be said only
once.

NOTE:

Salatul Janazah for the one who died far away is
allowed.

There is no Islamic teaching of putting the picture of
the deceased or some of his clothes or flowers in front of or around
the Kafan ( Shroud).

To use a coffin (Box) is not allowed, unless there is
necessity to use it, such as the body of the deceased is damaged, or
for health reasons, or when the grave is wet and cannot be
dried.

F) FOLLOWING THE JANAZAH

After Salatul Janazah, the deceased should be
transferred to the Muslim cemetery. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :
"Visit the sick and walk with the Janazah, it will remind you
of the hereafter"(Muslim).

It is recommended for those following the Janazah on
foot to keep behind or either on the right or on the left of those who
are carrying the body.

They should walk calmly, quietly, and not crowd or
push others who are carrying the deceased.

Following the Janazah with incense or candles,
mentioning Allah’s name loudly, weeping loudly or reading Quran, playing
music, or carrying the body of the deceased on a military car, all are not allowed when escorting the body of the
deceased.

The reward of Janazah prayer and following the Janazah
until the burial is finished is explained in the following Hadith of
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) who said :" Whoever attends the
Janazah until it is finished, will earn a Qirat, and who ever stays
until the burial, will earn two Qirats. Someone asked: What a Qirat
means ? , the Prophet answered :’ It means rewards as big as a great
mountain" ( Bukhari & Muslim ).

G) AL-DAFIN ( BURIAL )

Islam has a unique style of building graves and
cemeteries that is characterized by humility, simplicity and economy in
costs and that avoids glorifying the dead with elaborate
monuments.

It is of great importance that a special cemetery be
devoted exclusively for the use of Muslims. Muslims may not be buried in
the cemeteries of non-Muslims, nor can non-Muslims be buried in a Muslim
cemetery.

The deceased should be buried in the locality in which
he lived. It is undesirable to take the body to the person’s own country
or to another city.

In Muslim cemeteries, there are two types of graves
:

Al-Shaqq : is to make a deep vertical hole in
the ground.

Al-Lahed : is to make a deep vertical hole in
the ground, then in the bottom make a side horizontal hole big enough
to cover the whole body.

Both types are used, but it is preferable to use
Al-Lahed if the land is solid ( Figure (6) ).

Figure (6)

The burial should be done as soon as possible after death,
but the following times should be avoided :

At night.From sunrise until the sun is fully
risen.At the zenith of the sun (The sun at the meridian),
until it passes the meridian.

When the sun pales before sunset until it has
set.

During these times burying is prohibited unless there
is an urgent necessity, according to the Hadith of the Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) that was narrated by (Muslim).STEPS OF BURIAL : A grave is dug deep enough to totally hide the body
of the deceased.

The grave should be always perpendicular ( Horizontal)
to the direction of Qiblah.Only men are allowed to attend the burial.All Muslims who are present should remember death, the
hereafter, and that one day he too will be buried.They should keep quiet ( No talking unless it is
necessary ).The deceased’s male relatives are expected to put the
body in the grave, putting the body in the grave should be carried out
only by Muslim men..A female is placed in her grave either by her husband,
her sons, her father, her brothers, or her uncle.

The deceased’s body should be entered to the grave from
the direction where his feet will be ( From the rear of the grave ) (
Figure (7) ).

How to enter the body into
the grave

Front

Rear

Figure ( 7)

Those who enter the body of the deceased in the grave
should say : (Bismil llah wa ala millati rasulil llah), which
means : " In the name of Allah and in the faith of the Messenger of
Allah".

The deceased’s body should rest on his right
side, and should be close to the wall and supported so that the body
will not fall back, the deceased’sface should be towards the
Qiblah.( Figure (6),(8)
).

Figure ( 8)

Those who put the deceased in the grave should not have
had sexual intercourse with their wives the night before.

According to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H). Anas Ibn Malik related that :" During the burial of the
daughter of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was
sitting, tears coming out from eyes, he asked us:" Who did not have
sexual intercourse with his wife last night?" Abu Talha answered:" I,
Prophet Muhammad ", then Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said to him:" You
get down in the grave and lay her down" (Bukhari).

They should undo the tie on the head and the
feet.

They should put above the body a layer of wood or big
stones, so that earth will not be put directly on the body when they
fill the grave with earth.

After the body is totally covered, it is
desirable to throw three handfuls of soil into the grave.

Then the grave should be filled up with sand
.

It is allowable to put a mark on the grave or a stone
to know the grave.

It is also Sunnah to make the grave convex from sand,
according to the Hadith that was reported by Sofyan who said :
" That I saw the grave of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is made
convex " (Bukhari), convex out of sand.

Just after the burial all Muslims, including the
deceased’s relatives, may stay in the cemetery for a while and make
dua’( Supplicate ) for the deceased, since he is being questioned by
the Angels.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) in an authentic Hadith said
:" Make dua’ of Istighfar
( Supplicate for forgiveness) for your brother and request steadfastness
for him because he is now being questioned " (Authentic
-Abu Dawood).

NOTE:

There is no Islamic teaching of transferring the
deceased to another country.

There is no Islamic teaching of revealing the face of
the deceased after putting the body in the grave.

There is no Islamic teaching of shouting with special
dthiker (Certain words to remember Allah) before, during, and after
burial.

There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran in
the cemetery.

There is no Islamic teaching of putting flowers, food,
water, or money around the grave that will benefit the
deceased.

There is no Islamic teaching of putting anything in,
on or around the grave that will benefit the deceased.

There is no Islamic teaching of slaughtering an animal
during or after burial.

There is no Islamic teaching of staying in a state of
sadness for one year .

There is no Islamic teaching that the relatives of the
deceased should wear black clothes.

There is no Islamic teaching that planting flowers on,
or around the grave will benefit the deceased.

IMPORTANT RULES IN THE
CEMETERY

It is prohibited to step over, lean, or sit on a
grave.

Abu Hurrairah relates that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said
: " It is better for a person to sit on burning coal by which
his clothes may catch fire and the heat thereof may touch his skin,
rather than that he sits on a grave " (Muslim).

It is prohibited to build any form of construction
on the grave, or decorate the grave.

From the authentic traditions, it is clear that to
erect domes over graves or build mausoleums or Mosques on graves is
strictly forbidden. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said:" Do not build Mosques in the
graveyard " (Muslim).

Ali ibn abi Taleb reported that : " Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) instructed him to destroy all statues, and not to
leave a grave raised high without leveling it with the ground
" ( Muslim), which means no construction on the
grave.

It is prohibited to plaster the grave, whitewash
the grave, or use cooked stones.

Jabir relates that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) has
forbidden that a grave should be made strong (of bricks and plaster),
or durable or one should sit over it or the same should have a
construction over it. ( Muslim).

Jabir also reported: " Prophet Muhammad forbade
the whitewashing of a grave, sitting on it, or erecting any type of
structure on it " (Muslim).

This is according to the authentic Hadith of Um-Atiyah
who reported that we were forbidden to accompany funeral processions.
( Bukhari & Muslim).

It is prohibited to slaughter animals around the
grave.

Arranging a mourning gathering on the day of death,
or on the third day after death, or on the seventh, or on the
twentieth day, or on the fortieth day, or on the anniversary of the
death, all are abominable and heretical practices which people
have introduced.

These practices have no basis whatsoever in the Quran,
in the Sunnah of the Prophet, or in the practices of the early
Muslims, may Allah the Exalted have mercy upon them. Some of these
practices are done by some Muslims in different countries, but that
does not make it the Islamic way .

It is prohibited to cremate the body of dead
Muslim, even if the deceased requested it before his
death.

It is prohibited to put candles on the grave.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said in an authentic Hadith: " Curse
those wholight lamps on graves " (Authentic-Ahmed).

It is also disliked (Makruh) to pray in the
cemetery (Bukhari ).

Performing autopsy on a dead Muslim is totally
prohibited, unless it is requested by court order.

H) SPECIAL
CASES

1) Miscarried Fetus :

If the fetus is less than four months old (
Mother was pregnant for less than four months ), then the fetus may
not be washed; the fetus should be wrapped in a piece of white cloth
and buried. Then there is no Salatul Janazah for this
fetus.

If the fetus is more than four months old (
Mother was pregnant for more than four months ), then the fetus may be
washed, shrouded (Using one or two winding sheets to cover the whole
body), and then Muslims have the choice whether to perform Salatul
Janazah or not.

2) Children
:

A) Before reaching the age of puberty, a
child may be washed by males or females. Shrouding a child for
females use a shirt and two winding sheets and for males two or
three winding sheets may be used.

B) For those children who reached the age of
puberty, they should be dealt with as an adult { Female child
like female adult, and male child like male adult}, but then Salatul
Janazah be performed.

3)
Martyr :

The body of a Martyr should not be washed, nor be
shrouded but buried with the same clothes that people found him
with.

The strongest opinion of Muslim scholars is not to offer
Salatul Janazah for martyrs since Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) did not
offer it for the martyrs of the battle of Uhud.

I)CONDOLENCES

It is a Muslim’s duty to offer condolences, comfort, and
sympathy to the family and the relatives of the deceased. This
strengthens the relationships within the Muslim community.

When offering condolences, words should be chosen
carefully and said gently to convey sympathy and to encourage the family
and the relatives of the deceased to accept Allah’s will and to help
them to get back to their normal life.

Condolences may be offered to the family and to the
relatives of the deceased before, during or after burial for up to three
days, but it may be offered even at later time if someone did not hear
about it or he was far away.

It is recommended to leave after offering condolences to
give the family time to take care of their other affairs, assistance may
be offered for anything the family may need, and one may stay to help,
if asked.

Some families hold gatherings for three days or more,
and hire people to recite Quran loudly. While the Quran is recited,
others eat, drink or talk, disregarding the rules of listening to the
Quran, and inflicting the family with high expenses.

It is Sunnah that friends, neighbors and relatives
prepare food for the family of the deceased, for the loss of the loved
one occupies the family’s whole attention.

J) THE EDDA (WAITING
PERIOD) OF MUSLIM WIDOWS (FEMALES)

Upon hearing the news of the death of her husband, a
Muslim wife should be steadfast and patient. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
said :" Patience (Endurance ) is to be present from the first
shock "(Muslim).

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" Allah says: I
have no better reward than Paradise for a believer servant of Mine who
is patient and resigned when I take away one of his/her beloved, one
among those he/she most cherishes in the world "
(Bukhari).

She should accept all that Allah plans for her and her
family with sincerity and patience, as Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said
:" When a person suffers from some calamity and supplicates: ‘
Inna lil-la-he wa inna ilay he ra je oon’,‘ to Allah we belong and to
Allah shall we return’, O Allah make good the loss in this calamity, and
grant me something good, Allah then compensates him/her for the loss,
and give a better substitute" (Muslim).

It is prohibited to express grief by wailing, shrieking,
beating the chest or cheeks, tearing hair or clothes, or saying phrases
that makes a Muslim lose faith.

Um Atiyyah reports :" The Messenger of Allah made
us pledge that we will not wail over the dead" (Bukhari & Muslim). {see page 8,9}.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" I detest a
woman who cries out very loudly, or shaves her hair, or tears her
clothes when a beloved one dies " (Bukhari & Muslim).

She may cry, as the Prophet did when his son died. He
said :" The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and
we will not say except what pleases our Lord"(Bukhari).

Allah in the Quran prescribed the Edda (Waiting period)
for those wives whose husbands die : " And those of you who die and
leave wives behind them, they (The wives) shall wait for four months and
ten days "(Quran 2:234).

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said in an authentic Hadith
: "It is prohibited for a woman who believes in Allah and the day
of judgment to mourn a dead person more than three days except her
husband, in which case it is four months and ten days"
(Bukhari).

Edda is prescribed for widows in order to mourn the
death of their husbands, observe their memory, fulfill any obligations
toward them, and to see if the widow is pregnant or not.

In the following authentic Hadith, Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) explains the way that she should conduct herself during this
time.

Um Atiyyah reported that the Messenger of Allah said :
"A woman should not mourn for any deceased person for more than
three days, except in the case of her husband’s death, which she may
mourn for a period of four months and ten days. Such a woman in mourning
is not to wear any fancy, bright clothes, but only plain clothes, not
use any adornment or make-up, nor use perfume, nor die her hands or feet
with Henna " (Bukhari & Muslim).

If the widow is pregnant, then her waiting period ends
when she delivers her baby, according to Allah’s command in the Quran
: " And for those who are pregnant, their Edda is until they deliver
" (Quran 65:4).

DURATION OF
EDDA

PREGNANT

NOT
PREGNANT

Until delivery

Four Months and Ten
Days

So a widow during the Edda should :

Stay in her home, and only leave when it is
necessary.

Sleep in her home.

Not wear fancy, bright clothes.

Not wear jewelry.

Not use makeup including eyeliners (kohol).

Not use perfume.

THIS TIME IS NOT TO DEPRIVE HERSELF FROM LAWFUL
THINGS, OR TO SUFFER MORE THAN A HUMAN COULD BEAR. IT IS TIME TO
REMEMBER ALL THE MEMORIES OF HER HUSBAND, MAKE DUA’ FOR HIM, THINK ABOUT
HERSELF, AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

K) REWARDS AFTER
DEATH

While the life span of a Muslim is short, and deeds and
actions stop after death, a Muslim may continue to earn rewards for
certain things even after his death.

Good deeds, such as perpetual charity, are the ones that
follow him a Muslim (Get the rewards), even while the person is in the
grave, such deeds like: useful knowledge, a good child that prays for
him, a Mosque that he built, teaching Quran to another person, a house
he built for public use, a water fountain or a river that he rented and
made it free for people, or a charity that he gave during his life while
he was in good health; all are rewardable even after death.

In this respect the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said :
"After the death of a person his actions stop, except three things
that he leaves behind : First continuos charity, Second a knowledge from
which some benefit may be obtained, Third a virtuous son who makes Dua’ (Pray, supplicate) on his behalf " (Muslim).

Charity will benefit the deceased, as the following
Hadiths show : " A man came to the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and asked him
: " My father died leaving wealth but no will, would he be
pardoned if a charity is given on his behalf ?", the Prophet (P.B.U.H)
answered: "Yes" (Muslim).

Another Hadith : " A man came to the Prophet
(P.B.U.H) and asked him :" My mother has died without making up
for a missed days of fasting in the month of Ramadan, can I fast for her
? " , the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said to him : " Would you pay her debt if
she owed someone ? ". The man said : " Yes", then the Prophet (P.B.U.H)
said : " Then Allah is more deserving of payment in settlement of his
debt" "( Bukhari & Muslim).

Ibn Abbas reported that : " A woman came to
the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and said :" My mother had vowed to perform
Hajj ( Pilgrimage), but she died before she could fulfill her vow,
should I do it on her behalf ? " , the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said to him :" Yes perform Hajj on her behalf. Would you not pay the debt of your
mother if she had owed someone ?, fulfill it. Allah is more deserving of
receiving payment for what is due to Allah" " ( Bukhari & Muslim).

So from the previous authentic Hadiths there are
generally three things that benefit the dead:

1) Charity; Continuous Charity ;

2) A knowledge left by the deceased from which
some benefit may be obtained;

3) A virtuous son or daughter who makes Dua’
(Pray, supplicate) on the deceased’s behalf, or perform duties that
the deceased did not do during his lifetime such as fasting missed
days or Hajj, or pay his debts.

People put flowers, candles, food, perfume, on the
grave all of this will not benefit the deceased.

L) VISITING THE
CEMETERY

In the beginning of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)
advised Muslim males not to visit the cemeteries, but after that he the
Prophet(P.B.U.H.) gave them the permission to visit the cemetery to
remind them of the hereafter.

This is based on the Hadith of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
: " I advised you not to visit the cemetery, but from now you may
visit the cemetery, it will remind you of the hereafter "
( Muslim).

All scholars have no dispute about the point that it
is prohibited for Muslim females to frequently visit the cemetery.
This is due to the authentic Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)
who said : " May Allah curse the women who are frequently visiting
the cemetery " (Authentic, Termithi).

But if the visit is not frequent , most scholars say
it is Makrouh ( Hated action ), while other scholars say it is
permissible for Muslim females to visit the cemetery provided that the
visit is not frequent and it is for the sole purpose of remembering
death and hereafter.

When Muslim females visit the cemetery, they should
wear proper clothes, no make-up or perfume, they should not cry loudly
or say words of discontent or behave unislamically .

The purpose of visiting the cemetery is to remember the
fact that everyone is going to die and that we must prepare for the day
of judgment.

Visiting the cemetery benefits the dead too, since the
visitors will make dua’ (supplicate) for the dead to forgive his sins
and have mercy on him.

NOTE:

There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave
after three days, or seven days, or twenty days, or forty
days.

There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave of
the parents every Friday.

There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave any
special days such as Eid days, Ashura day, or
Ramadan.

There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran
during the visit to the cemetery.

There is no Islamic teaching of wiping hands over the
grave, or kissing the grave.

THIS IS ONLY A QUICK LOOK AT THIS FINAL JOURNEY. A
MATURE PERSON BEFORE TAKING ANY TRIP SHOULD PREPARE ALL THAT IS NEEDED
TO HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY, AND SINCE NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THIS JOURNEY WILL
START, THEN IT BECOMES LOGICAL TO GET READY RIGHT AWAY.

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H.) SAID IN AN AUTHENTIC
HADITH " BE IN THIS WORLD AS A TRAVELER OR STRANGER
"

(BUKHARI).

ALLAH SAYS IN THE QURAN: " EVERYONE SHALL TASTE
DEATH. AND ONLY ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION SHALL YOU BE PAID YOUR WAGES
IN FULL. AND WHOEVER IS REMOVED AWAY FROM THE FIRE AND ADMITTED TO THE
PARADISE, INDEED THIS PERSON ATTAINED SUCCESS, AND THIS LIFE IS ONLY
ENJOYMENT OF DECEPTION " (QURAN 29:57).

FINALLY ONE FAMOUS POET SAID : " WHEN YOU ARE BORN,
YOU WERE CRYING WHILE OTHER PEOPLE WERE VERY HAPPY, SO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN YOU DIE, YOU BE VERY HAPPY, WHILE OTHERS CRY."

M)
REFERENCES

The Holy Quran, English translation of the meaning of
the Quran, Saudi Arabia.

Interpretation of the Meaning of the Noble Quran in the
English language, Saudi Arabia .